Right Where You Left Me

population 1531

I pick up the little bag of brownie mix, the plastic covering crinkling in my hand as I frown and flip it back to see the instructions. "Should I make this?" I ask.

Nate, who is sprawled on the couch reading a book, nods. "If you want to, sure."

I pour the mix into a bowl and mix in the ingredients before setting it into the oven. "45 minute wait," I complain.

Nate sets down his book and grins. "I can make that go by faster," he says.

I roll my eyes, but my cheeks flush pink. Ever since the picnic, Nate has been shamelessly flirting with me. I want to take things slowly; I'm not ready to commit to a relationship, and I don't know if Nate is ready to either. But I don't say any of this to him. I simply ignore his advances and play off his flirting as a joke.

I flip down next to him and loop my arms around my legs, book in hand as I begin to read. The Iliad by Homer is my current read, and although long and extremely complicated, I did some research on Greek mythology beforehand to aid me whilst reading it. Plus, my Percy Jackson obsession I had in the first grade really helps, too.

"Ah, The Iliad," Nate sighs, stretching out. "It's a tough one, but you're probably the only person on planet Earth who can read and understand it like any other novel."

I turn away, letting my hair fall over my flaming face; flaming because compliments about reading are the best kind. "Have you read it?" I ask.

He shrugs. "Yeah. Apparently the Homer guy sang it when he first wrote it."

I frown. "I would've gotten bored so quickly though."

"Same," he says. "People used to have such long attention spans."

We continue to read in silence, and before I know it, the beeping timer goes off.

"Brownies are ready," I announce as I take them out of the oven and take off the oven mitts. Nate looks up from the book he's reading, adjusting his glasses before grinning at the sight of the brownies on the stove.

He sets the book down and makes his way to me. I expect him to stop a few feet away from me, but he steps right up to me and the only thing I can think about is how close our bodies are in proximity.

"Hi," I breathe as I stare up at him. His lips curve slightly, but he doesn't respond. Instead, he turns his gaze to the cabinet above me and reaches up to grab a bowl.

Oh.

My face is millimetres away from his surprisingly muscular chest, the fabric of his old Frankenstein t-shirt stretched softly across his shoulders. His arms are no different from his chest; lean with muscle but not actually muscular. The smell of minty gum and cigarettes flood my nose. 

He retrieves the bowl and sets it down on the counter next to me before reaching around me to open the fork drawer. The drawer hits my hip and he sets a large hand on my waist to steady me.

"S'cuse me," he says softly, his voice almost a whisper. He doesn't need to say it any louder. I'm right here.

Once the fork is secured in the bowl, I expect Nate to move. To maybe grab the brownies, or get some ice cream from the freezer, or maybe even suggest a midnight trip to the drugstore to buy ice cream because we don't have any. But he doesn't do any of those things. He doesn't even move from where he's standing.

He braces a hand on either side of me on the edge of the counter, shifting his weight to lean on it. Then he rolls his tongue in his cheek and studies my face.

"What?" I ask. He doesn't snap out of his trance, though. Instead, he removes one of his hands from the counter and brings it to my face. His fingertips brush my lips. I flush scarlet.

"What would you do," he says, "If I kissed you right now?"

I'm so red, I'm surprised I'm not burning his fingers. I meet his eyes. They're blue and dilated and smouldering hot and they're focused right on me.

"I'd probably push you away," I say, and huff out a nervous laugh.

I've never been a good liar, and Nate can probably tell because the corner of his mouth lifts into a smirk as he leans closer to me a little more. "I really want to test that theory," he tells me.

I'm too frozen to say anything. I'm too frozen
to move, or breathe, really. Nate's hand snakes around the back of my neck gently. The rings on his fingers cool my burning neck.

"Relax," he whispers, and then he closes the distance between us.

I immediately melt into him. It's like I've lost all control of myself, of my body. This kiss is sweet and slow and long and I want to savour it more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. The brownies and the bowl and the spoon lie forgotten on the counter as Nate and I continue to pull each other closer together.

He grips me a little tighter and tilts my head to deepen our kiss. I've forgotten how to breathe and I don't even care. Nate can be my air now.
He pushes me back against the counter and I hold onto him so I don't collapse, but he doesn't even notice. I close my eyes and focus on his lips on mine, on the faintest trace of stubble on his chin where he forgot to shave, on-

My elbow nudges the fork off the counter and it falls to the floor with a clatter. Startled, we break away from each other.

He chuckles the tiniest bit and scratches his jaw, grinning at me with lazy eyes before grabbing me by my waist and bringing my lips to his again.

"Wait," I say, pulling away. "What about-"

"Shhh," he says, silencing my words with his lips as he begins to kiss me again. What ever thought was pulling at the edge of my mind floats away as I get lost in his body again.

When I finally remember what I was going to say, I break our kiss again. "Your grandma-"

"God, you never know when to shut up, do you?" he mumbles against my mouth.

"Your grandma could come in at any moment -"

"Well then I'd advise you stay quiet so she doesn't have a reason to check on us." He arches a brow at me, but a smile tugs at the corners of his cruel mouth.

The smirk turns to a frown of concern as his fingers brush my lips again. "Your mouth is unusually red," he comments.

"You have been kind of attacking them for the past ten minutes," I tell him.

He grins and pulls me closer. "Yeah?"

"Yup."

"Want me to do it some more?"

"Yup."

I try to grin, but his lips are already on mine again.